Intravenous essential fatty acid emulsion

Abstract

A method for preventing stenosis and thrombosis of an AV graft is disclosed. An essential fatty acid emulsion is administered to the patient through the AV graft, preferably during dialysis, whereby the anti-inflammatory properties of the essential fatty acid emulsion prevent complications typical of AV grafts.

Description

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to compositions including essential fatty acids suitable for intravenous administration to a patient in need thereof to reduce or eliminate inflammatory responses, as well as methods of making and using the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to compositions including an essential fatty acid emulsion suitable for intravenous use prior to or during hemodialysis to prevent or reduce stenosis and / or thrombosis of a vascular access. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0002] Hemodialysis is the most common method used to treat advanced and permanent kidney failure. Since the 1960's, when hemodialysis first became a practical treatment for kidney failure, many advances have been made to make hemodialysis treatments more effective and to minimize side effects. During hemodialysis, a patient's blood is allowed to flow through tubing, a few ounces at a time, into a hemodialysis machine. The hemodialysis machine has three pri...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention provides compositions including an effective amount of essential fatty acids (EFAs) suitable for intravenous use in patients prior to or during hemodialysis to reduce or eliminate the incidence of vascular access stenosis and / or thrombosis.

[0009] The present invention also provides methods of reducing or eliminating the incidence of vascular access stenosis and / or thrombosis by intravenously administering to a patient in need thereof compositions including an effective amount of EFAs for reducing or eliminating stenosis and / or thrombosis.

[0010] The present invention further provides a method of reducing or eliminating the incidence of stenosis and / or thrombosis of a hemodialysis patient's vascular access. The method comprises administering intravenously a suitable composition including and effective amount of EFAs directly through a patient's vascular access.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, a high percentage of AV grafts develop low or inadequate blood flow due to stenosis or thrombosis within weeks or months of implantation.

Antiplatelet or anticoagulation regimens used in an attempt to reduce the AV graft failure rate have met with mixed results.

The unwanted side effects of antiplatelet or anticoagulation regimens have all but precluded such approaches to reduce the high incidence of vascular access failures.

Unfortunately, AV fistulas, likewise have drawbacks.

One such drawback is that it takes time for the vein to grow larger to create a robust and enlarged ‘rapidly flowing lake’ of blood for purposes of hemodialysis.

The most common complications are infection and low blood flow due to blood clotting.

Compared with AV fistulas, AV grafts tend to have more complications associated with clotting or infection requiring replacement of the AV graft.